Barnacles – One Single Sound

Barnacles present a multitude of stylistic twists and turns on the infinitely surprising scope of “One Single Sound”. Layers of drones intermingle with the greatest of ease for Barnacles explores darkened terrains throughout the scope of the elongated pieces. By choosing such an approach Barnacles lets the songs evolve in a naturalistic way. The loose arrangement works out to their advantage for the songs gradually shift into full rhythmic beasts. Tempos have a tribal temperament to them for all becomes engrossing into swirling surreal drones.

Classical elements drift out of the album opener, the stately sound of “As No Man Ever Did Before”. Organs linger on in the distance adding to the overall flavor of the piece. About halfway through the piece everything begins to pick up speed as a rhythm emerges out of the sonic ether to give shape the sound. On “I Hate a Barnacle” the song descends into a chaotic din of sound. Various walls of sound and feedback add to the tension that defines the piece. Throughout the work the way the blasts of noise work as an additional emotional awareness of what is about to happen. By the very end the beats have overtaken everything else moving at a spry pace. Quite mellow is the languid pacing of “In a Slow-Sailing Ship” which emphasizes atmosphere above everything else. Panic-inducing in nature is the chaos of “Not Even a Sailor”.

With “One Single Sound” Barnacles effortlessly balances the serene with the celebratory.